TDI is strengthening its leadership bench as geopolitical risk and regulatory complexity push demand for sharper intelligence. The advisory and risk insights firm has appointed Vanessa Sussman as Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer, reporting directly to the CEO. Her mandate: elevate TDI’s global brand and align marketing with the firm’s commercial ambitions as it expands into new markets.

The appointment comes at a moment when risk intelligence firms are racing to differentiate amid rising demand for due diligence, investigations and geopolitical analysis. TDI aims to use marketing as a strategic lever, not a support function, as it broadens its mix of advisory services and software-driven solutions.

A CMO Built for Complex Markets

CEO Jay Truesdale said Sussman’s background makes her a natural fit. “She brings a strategic mindset and a unique background at the intersection of global affairs, marketing, and communications,” he noted. “Her ability to distill complex issues into clear, compelling narratives will be essential as we grow and continue to help clients navigate an increasingly challenging geopolitical and regulatory landscape.”

Sussman’s résumé spans more than 25 years across corporations, advisory firms, media organizations and nonprofits. Most recently, she served as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Eurasia Group and GZERO Media, where she helped the brands cut through noise in a crowded geopolitical insights market. Before that, she led private markets communications at Nuveen, following senior roles at Morningstar. Her earlier experience includes Group SJR, Council of the Americas, Foreign Policy, and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.

Her track record reflects fluency in translating global complexity into digestible stories—an increasingly valuable skill as companies across industries confront political volatility, fragmented regulation and heightened operational risk.

Strengthening TDI’s Global Position

At TDI, Sussman will oversee global brand strategy with a focus on scaling visibility among decision-makers in corporate, financial, and government sectors. She will also align messaging and go-to-market initiatives with the firm’s expanding portfolio, which now includes software tools designed to streamline due diligence and risk monitoring.

The firm’s growth ambitions extend across regions and sectors where geopolitical intelligence is becoming a competitive advantage. Sussman’s role will be central in sharpening how TDI communicates that value.

Beyond her professional background, Sussman remains active in civic and educational communities. She serves on the board of City Year New York and sits on the communications advisory board for the Museum of American Finance. She holds degrees from Johns Hopkins SAIS and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

With Sussman joining the leadership team, TDI signals a more assertive go-to-market stance—one built on clarity, credibility, and sharper global storytelling.